News Archive

The Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota invites the public to submit nominations for the 2008 Parks & Trails Council Awards. This is the inaugural year for the awards, which will honor the volunteer contributions of individuals and organizations who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the excellence, health, conservation, and open access of the state's public parkland and trails.

Energy and determination

Behind every successful park or trail effort you will find a Trail Builder, an individual who shepherded that dream into reality, giving time, money or both. The following Question & Answer features one such Trail Builder – Peggy Lynch. Lynch is the executive director for the Friends of the Parks & Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County. She has been instrumental in helping to create the Lilydale and Samuel H. Morgan trails and she helped lead a successful effort to protect Crosby Farm/ Hidden Falls Regional Park from a housing development in the early 1980s.

Promoting Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret

Friends groups play an important role in planning, developing, maintaining and advocating for Minnesota’s parks and trails. The following Question and Answer features one such organization – Voyageurs National Park Association. Voyageurs National Park is located about 15 miles east of International Falls on Minnesota's Canadian border.

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota still hopes to negotiate deal to convert railway to trailway

Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train owner Dave Paradeau today informed the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota that the popular restaurant on rails would continue operating for a 23rd year – perhaps under new ownership and management. Paradeau had originally announced that he and the Zephyr would be retiring at the end of 2007.